HB52 • 2026

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS

An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

Children Healthcare Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES DIBERT, Fields, Foster, Burke, Jimmie, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Story, Schrage, Mina, Costello SENATORS Merrick, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Claman, Stedman, Kawasaki, Dunbar
Last action: 2026-05-17
Official status: (H) CONCURRED(S) AM
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information about how hospitals should facilitate weekly communication between minors and their guardians.

Act on Minors' Rights and Psychiatric Hospital Practices

This act establishes new rights for minors in psychiatric hospitals, requires annual reports about the use of seclusion or restraint, mandates regular inspections by health officials, and sets rules for notifying parents about these practices.

What This Bill Does

Gives minors undergoing evaluation or treatment at psychiatric hospitals the right to weekly confidential phone or video calls with their parent or guardian for a minimum of two hours.
Requires the Department of Health to publish an annual report on the use of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric hospitals, including details about chemical restraints used.
Directs health officials to conduct unannounced inspections at least twice yearly in hospitals where minors spend more than three nights.
Mandates that psychiatric hospitals notify parents or guardians within 72 hours if their child is subjected to seclusion or restraint.

Who It Names or Affects

Minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals
Psychiatric hospitals and their staff
Parents or guardians of minors in psychiatric care

Terms To Know

chemical restraint: A medication used to control behavior or restrict movement, but not including regular medication for treating mental health conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how hospitals should facilitate the weekly communication between minors and their guardians.
It is unclear what actions will be taken if a hospital fails to comply with the reporting or inspection requirements.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

AM 1

2258

AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

Plain English: AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC 2258

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

2026-05-17 2748
(H) AWAITING TRANSMITTAL TO GOV
2026-05-17 2748
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8
2026-05-17 2748
(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14
2026-05-17 2747
(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
2026-05-17 2747
(H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED
2026-05-17 2739
(S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
2026-05-17 2739
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
2026-05-17 2718
(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-05-17 2718
(S) PASSED Y20 N-
2026-05-17 2718
(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
2026-05-17 2718
(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-05-17 2717
(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
2026-05-17 2717
(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-17 2717
(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN6: (DOH)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN5: ZERO(DFC)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN4: ZERO(DFC)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) NR: OLSON, KAUFMAN, CRONK, KIEHL
2026-05-16 2685
(S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FIN RPT SCS 2DP 4NR SAME TITLE
2026-05-15 Min
(S) Minutes (SFIN)
2026-05-15 Text
(S) Moved SCS CSHB 52(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-15 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-13 Text
(S) Scheduled but Not Heard
2026-05-13 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-12 Min
(S) Minutes (SFIN)
2026-05-12 Text
(S) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-12 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-06 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-05-06 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-06 2493
(S) DUNBAR
2026-05-06 2493
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, KAWASAKI,
2026-04-24 2340
(S) FIN
2026-04-24 2339
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-04-22 2264
(H) VERSION: CSHB 52(HSS) AM
2026-04-22 2264
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2026-04-22 2263
(H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STORY, SCHRAGE, MINA, COSTELLO
2026-04-22 2260
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-04-22 2259
(H) PASSED Y37 E3
2026-04-22 2259
(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 52(HSS) AM
2026-04-22 2259
(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-04-22 2258
(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC
2026-04-22 2258
(H) HSS CS ADOPTED UC
2026-04-22 2257
(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-04-22 2257
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2026
2026-03-25 1962
(H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, HANNAN
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN6: (DOH)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN5: ZERO(DFC)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN4: ZERO(DFC)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) NR: STAPP
2026-03-25 1949
(H) SCHRAGE
2026-03-25 1949
(H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, TOMASZEWSKI, HANNAN, MOORE, BYNUM, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER,
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FIN RPT CS(HSS) 9DP 1NR
2026-03-24 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee
2026-03-24 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-03-18 1877
(H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE
2026-03-17 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-03-17 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-03-17 Text
(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
2026-03-17 Text
(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
2025-05-15 Min
(H) Minutes (HFIN)
2025-05-15 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to 8:00 am on 5/16 --
2025-05-15 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2025-04-30 973
(H) FIN REPLACES L&C REFERRAL
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN3: (DOH)
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN2: ZERO(DFC)
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN1: ZERO(DFC)
2025-04-30 955
(H) NR: PRAX
2025-04-30 955
(H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS, MINA
2025-04-30 955
(H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP 1NR
2025-04-29 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-29 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee
2025-04-29 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-24 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-24 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-04-24 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-22 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-22 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --
2025-04-22 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-07 626
(H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE
2025-04-03 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-03 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-04-03 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-25 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-03-25 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-03-25 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-03 283
(H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER
2025-01-27 92
(H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS
2025-01-22 44
(H) HSS, L&C
2025-01-22 44
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0052D -1- SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0399\T

SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 52(FIN)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Offered: 5/16/26
Referred: Rules

Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES DIBERT, Fields, Foster, Burke, Jimmie, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Story,
Schrage, Mina, Costello

SENATORS Merrick, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Claman, Stedman, Kawasaki, Dunbar

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at 1
psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric 2
hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to 3
inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing 4
for an effective date." 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 6
* Section 1. AS 47.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 7
Sec. 47.30.843. Minors undergoing inpatient mental health evaluation and 8
treatment. A minor undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at a psychiatric 9
hospital has the right, unless it is otherwise prohibited by law or court order or 10
considered therapeutically unadvisable by the professional person in charge, to have 11
confidential telephone or video communication each week for at least two cumulative 12
hours with the minor's parent or legal guardian or other adult approved by the 13
professional person in charge. The minor, the minor's parent or legal guardian, or 14
34-LS0399\T
SCS CSHB 52(FIN) -2- HB0052D
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

another adult approved by the professional person in charge may request the 1
confidential communication. The psychiatric hospital shall facilitate the 2
communication. 3
* Sec. 2. AS 47.32.030 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 4
(e) The Department of Health shall prepare an annual report regarding minors 5
in psychiatric hospitals and, not later than November 1 of each year, publish the report 6
on the department's Internet website, submit the report to the senate secretary and the 7
chief clerk of the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is 8
available. The report must 9
(1) contain information on the uses of seclusion and restraint reported 10
under AS 47.32.200(g), including the aggregate total of the uses of seclusion or 11
restraint at each psychiatric hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient 12
treatment, and the type of psychotropic medication used, if any, to carry out each 13
chemical restraint; 14
(2) summarize the department's findings from the inspections 15
conducted under AS 47.32.110(d); and 16
(3) contain data on the number of minors who received residential care 17
at psychiatric hospitals, including information provided by the Department of Family 18
and Community Services under (f) of this section regarding minors in state custody 19
who receive care at psychiatric hospitals. 20
(f) The Department of Family and Community Services shall annually 21
(1) collect data on the number of minors in state custody who received 22
residential care at psychiatric hospitals in the state, the number of minors in state 23
custody who received residential care at out-of-state psychiatric hospitals, and the 24
amount of time each of those minors spent at psychiatric hospitals in each of those 25
settings; and 26
(2) provide the data collected under (1) of this subsection to the 27
Department of Health for inclusion in the report required under (e) of this section. 28
* Sec. 3. AS 47.32.110(c) is amended to read: 29
(c) Upon petition of the department with licensing authority for the entity 30
under AS 47.32.010 and after a hearing held upon reasonable notice to the entity, the 31
34-LS0399\T
HB0052D -3- SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

court shall issue an order to an officer or employee of that department authorizing the 1
officer or employee to enter for any of the purposes described in (a) or (d) of this 2
section. 3
* Sec. 4. AS 47.32.110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 4
(d) A designated agent or employee of the Department of Health shall 5
conduct, at least twice each year, an unannounced inspection of each psychiatric 6
hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment and in which a 7
minor has spent more than three nights in the preceding year. In conducting an 8
inspection under this subsection, the Department of Health shall interview at least 50 9
percent of the minor patients of the psychiatric hospital. Staff of the psychiatric 10
hospital may not be present during an interview conducted under this subsection 11
unless the Department of Health requests staff presence during the interview to ensure 12
safety. 13
* Sec. 5. AS 47.32.200 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 14
(g) A psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department of Health in writing of 15
each use of seclusion or restraint on a minor, including the use of a chemical, 16
mechanical, or physical restraint. The psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department 17
of Health and the parent or guardian of the minor not later than 72 hours after the use 18
of seclusion or restraint. The notification provided by a psychiatric hospital regarding 19
the use of a chemical restraint must include the type of psychotropic medication used 20
to carry out the chemical restraint. 21
* Sec. 6. AS 47.32.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 22
(22) "chemical restraint" means a medication that is used to control the 23
behavior or to restrict the freedom of movement of a patient; "chemical restraint" does 24
not include the ongoing use of a medication for the treatment of symptoms of an 25
underlying psychiatric illness. 26
* Sec. 7. This Act takes effect July 1, 2027. 27